I made it!

~my very own locks of love~

~~~~~

Thankfully - the day finally arrived when my hair easily reached the 'ponytail' length necessary for the Locks of Love organization.  I started growing my hair out right after my Mother's lung cancer diagnosis, in March of 2007, and it was on the short-side when I started to grow it out.  I think that at one time, when I was quite a bit younger, that I had the patience for long hair - but now it just annoys me:  it's miserably hot in the summer, the back knots up on long (or hell, even short) flights, and, well - it just bugs me.  It's nice because I've never chemically treated my hair - and there's no gray - so it can go in the 'pile' of hair used for young children (who are more sensitive to the chemicals).  I know how important it was for my Mom to have a nice wig when her hair started falling out - it was comforting to her, and made her feel better about going out in public.  I've also had a good friend who has unexplained Alopeciaas an adult - and while she has grown comfortable with her bald head (which is stunnning, by the way), she's made me more aware of the condition in people of all ages.

I know that there is the ocassionally publicity about Locks of Love, and other similar organizations - publicity that suggests that they are mis-managed or that what happens to your hair often isn't what you hope it to be.  But regardless of the annoyance, all I had to do was doing nothing for a few years - nothing to my hair that is - and even if there is only a small chance that my hair will end up helping someone, I still know that my Mom is out there smiling somewhere, saying 'thank god she finally cut that ratty mess'.  Thinking about her saying that makes me smile too.

For that thought alone it was worth two years of bad hair days.

Comments

[sailingcvgal]

I have a daughter-in-law with Alopecia who has lost and regained her hair several times since childhood. She and her Dr. think that it is gone for good now. Her wig has to be replaced at least 2 times a year and it is very expensive. Thanks to wonderful people like you, and Locks of Love, not everyone who needs a wig has to endure the expense.

[Blackswampgirl Kim]

Congratulations, Pam!

[Janet]

Good for you Pam, I know my daughter did this three times (her hair grows sooooooo fast!!) and each time we were proud of her for making this contribution. Locks for Love is a great organization.

[Layanee]

and what beautiful hair you had....no gray? I am taking that picture to my stylist so he can match that color....LOL. That was a very thoughtful thing to do and not the easiest by the sounds of things.